Joseph John 'Joe' Clemens

DANE – Joseph “Joe” John Clemens, age 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home on Saturday, April 21, 2012. He was born at home in Dane on June 5, 1931, to John and Catherine (Ganser) Clemens. On Oct. 30, 1954, he married Vonnie Karls at St. Michael Catholic Church in Dane. Their marriage was blessed with nine children, Keith (Kathy), Scott (Patty), Dale (Sue), Bob (Lora), Mary Jo (Dennis) Ziegler, Kim (Jeff) Streeter, Dean (Lucy), Joe (Helen) and Cathy (Dan) Meinholz; also 34 grandchildren, Pam, Kari, Craig, Nick, Lisa (Jeremy), Brenda (Jeremy), Alan (Chrissy), Tammy (Andy), Holly, Tony, Randy, Kelly (Nick), Andrea (fiancé Matt), Mark, Dustin (fiancée Brianna), Jesse, Tabetha, Rachel (Phillip), Ashley, Dylan, Amanda (Ben), Brandon (fiancée Stephanie), Collin, Aimee, Maddie, Joey, Thomas, Theresa, Timothy, Katelyn, Shannon, Jonathan, Benjamin and RaeAnn; and 10 great-grandchildren, Lauren, Brielle, Brooklyn, Sadie, Evan, Adeline, Tycen, Breelyn, Samuel and Gabriel; and extended family, Ken (Shirley) Pape and Dave (Karen) Pape and their families. He served his country in the Army during the Korean War from 1952 until 1954, and was awarded a bronze star. He farmed with his family for many years and worked as a rural mail carrier in Dane for 28 years. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church of Dane, American Legion Post 503 of Dane, Knights of Columbus Council 6463 of Lodi, served as a board member at Durward’s Glen and was a volunteer for the Dane Fire Department. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and playing cards. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Vonnie; children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; friends; his sisters and brother, Polly Olsen, Dolores Ness, Jerry (Eva) Clemens; and sisters-in-law, Jackie Karls and Margaret Karls. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Courtney; his siblings, Vincent Clemens, Mary (Elwin) Smith, and Leo (Carol) Clemens; and in-laws, Robert Ness, Arnold Olsen, Louise (Robert) Havlik and August “Bud” Karls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH, 109 S. Military Road, Dane, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, with Father Francisco Higuera presiding. Burial will follow at St. Michael Cemetery. Visitation will be held at ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a rosary to be recited at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday. Thanks Dad for your love, patriotism, guidance, leadership, strength, support, respect and for sharing your devoted faith (JC). Thank you to Dave Eberdt, Kelly and the staff at the Lodi Medical Clinic and Home Health United Hospice. Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord, and let perpetual life shine upon him may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen. Visitation will be held at ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a rosary to be recited at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH, 109 S. Military Road, Dane, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, with Father Francisco Higuera presiding.